On behalf of The Law Offices of Mark Deniz APLC on Monday, May 9, 2016.

I was reading a recent article about a DUI checkpoint in Chula Vista and I thought it would be good to write a little about what to do if arrested at a Chula Vista DUI checkpoint. A new year brings a spike in Chula Vista DUI arrests. It is key that you be proactive if you are arrested. There is a small window to give someone the best resolution possible. If you are arrested for Chula Cista DUI call (858) 751-4384 for a free consultation.

Here is a recent article about a local DUI checkpoint that is planned.

Field sobriety tests were given to seven drivers, three of which were arrested for drunk driving and a fourth driver was arrested for being drunk in public.

Three arrests for drunk driving were made at two checkpoints in San Diego County this weekend, one in Vista and one in Chula Vista.

Sheriff's deputies conducted a checkpoint in the 2400 block of South Melrose Drive in Vista from 7:45 p.m. Friday until 1:15 a.m. Saturday, in which 1,503 vehicles passed through. Of those, 619 vehicles were screened and 34 were sent to secondary evaluationThere were 13 citations issued to unlicensed drivers, one citation for driving on a suspended license, six cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive and four drivers were given tickets for not having their license with them. Nine vehicles were impounded during the 5 1/2-hour operation.

No one was arrested for drunk driving at the Chula Vista Police checkpoint in the 1400 block of East H Street from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday, according to police.

Of the 2,004 vehicles that traveled through the Chula Vista checkpoint, 943 were screened and five drivers were given a field sobriety test. Twelve drivers were cited for driving without a license or on a suspended license, 11 vehicles were impounded and 44 citations were issued for various vehicle code violations.

The utilization of San Diego DUI or sobriety checkpoints has proliferated in the last few years due in large part to huge amounts of State grant money flowing into local city coffers from San Diego DUIfines and penalty assessments from convictions in Court. Police have also used saturation patrols as a way to ferret DUI drivers. While the use of these types of law enforcement tools is generally regarded as comporting with Constitutional proscriptions, their use is not always legal. In the seminal case within the context of sobriety roadblocks, Ingersoll vs. Palmer, the United States Supreme Court handed down guidelines that must be complied with in any particular law enforcement initiated checkpoint. Among the factors are:

The degree of discretion left to the individual officer in the field

The specific location chosen for the roadblock

The time and duration of the roadblock

The standards set by superior officers

Was advance notice given to the general public

Was advance warning given to approaching motorists

Adherence to recognized safety conditions

The length of time each motorist is stopped and detained.

When challenging a San Diego DUI checkpoint each of the above factors is considered by the criminal Court Judge hearing the motion. In San Diego County the police use sobriety stops very heavily. It is not uncommon on any given weekend to see local police setting up a drunk driver roadblock in such places as Pacific Beach (PB), the Gaslamp area of Downtown, Poway, post-Chargers game, etc. As the holidays are coming up, there will be more check points throughout San Diego County.

As a local attorney who has defended thousands of DUI cases, Mark Deniz can help evaluate whether your individual rights were violated. One very common problem with San Diego DUI checkpoints in San Diego DUIs is the stopping and detaining of drivers who simply turn off and avoid going thru a police initiated roadblock. Simply making a turn to avoid the checkpoint is not in itself illegal nor does it form the basis to stop and detain a motorist. If you or someone you know was stopped by the police under this type of scenario, contact Mark Deniz immediately.

One thing is true, the intrusion imposed upon the general public by the use of San Diego DUI checkpoints is very great and should be allowed, if at all, in very limited circumstances. If you or someone you love has had the unfortunate circumstance of being caught up in this type of possible illegal conduct by the police we urge you to call San Diego DUI attorney Mark Deniz for a free initial case evaluation at (858) 751-4DUI (4384). Mr. Deniz will meet with you one on one and discuss all legal options available. The Law Offices of Mark Deniz serves all San Diego County. Remember that the time to defend a San Diego DUI case is NOW, if you wait and procrastinate your rights may be lost and you may end up with a San Diego DUI on your record for the next decade.

If you are charged with a San Diego DUI or other Criminal offense, you need to call our firm immediately. We are available to take action on your case today. Please email or call us at 858-751-4384 or email me at mark@denizdefense.com to schedule a free consultation. The key is to be proactive.

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